West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-01-21
CLUBLIFE IN NEW YORK
HOW MEN WITH INCOMES AND
LEISURE PASS THEIR TIME.
Dabbling in Stocks and Longing at the
Horse Show and Theaters.
New York Times.


incomes sufficient to live on, but
who add to their revenue by occa-
sional speculation in stocks, yet who
are not actually engaged in busi-
ness. The result has been the crea-
tion of a large class of club loungers,
who arc making the clubs as at
tractive here as in London or Paris.
To this class the club is sort of
home; indeed, they only lodge else
where, and take all their meals and
write and receive their letters at the
club. They are also to be found "at
home" there when not attending TO
social duties. In London and Paris
these loungers, or gentlemen of leis
ure and pleasure, pass most of their
time attending studio receptions and
morning performances at the thea
ter, but here the social engagements
are generally neglected, excepting
such affairs as the annual horse
show at Madison-Square garden or
the races at Jerome Park or Sleeps
head Bay. 1t is probably because
all of this class indulge more or less
in stock speculation, especially in
bull market, like the present, that
events during the day do not oftener
enlist them. The attractions OF the
unfolding tape are stronger at such
a time than ANYTHING else. The men
of this class are always heavy bet
ters at the races or, to speak more
correctly, pool ticket investors. Hav
ing good tips, they are generally
successful. There used to be com
plant that there was no place for
this class OF ldlers in our social sys
TEN. 1t is true that compared TO
London or Paris it is hard to kill
time in this city outside of the reg
ular places of amusement. Except
ing the races at Jerome Park or
Sheepshead Bay and the horse show
and the poultry show there is not
much for man OF leisure t) do ex
cept to promenade on the Avenue or
drive on the road. There is more
to be secured for the same amount
of money here, and the climate is
preferable, but there is little "going
on"
Perhaps if there were the various
incidental entertainments that are
always offered in London and Paris
this club-lounging class would not
indulge so much m stock specula-
tion. 1t is noticeable that when q
canvass is in progress this class de-
votes much attention to betting.
There was much betting in the clubs
on the election for mayor. The elcc
tion over, the rush has been to the
horse show, and throughout the
week there was daily large attend
ance of the wealthy clubmen. 1t is
to be observed that no event aside
from the races attracts the better
classes so numerously as the annual
horse show at Madison-Square Gar
den. 1t may be that it is English,
you know" to like and know all
about horSehesh.
But for this rapidly increasing
class of "income" men Of leisure
and pleasure the clubs would be lit
tie frequented during the day.
There is none of the clubs excepting
those which are purely political that
has not its share Of this class, and
consequently there is a good day
attendance at most Of the clubs.
Many of them belong to social clubs,
and divide the time between them.
There is much playing during the
day at the Racquette Club. and also
at the Athletic Club. The card
rooms at all of the leading clubs are
always occupied in the afternoons
as much as during the evenings. 1t
is very difficult for stranger to Oh
tain admission to many of the Lon
don clubs, but in this city visitors
are always eligible for introduction.
and often the visiting list is quite
In many of the clubs
here o member can introduce a resi-
dent friend twice or more during the
year. which is something unheard of
in some of the London clubs.
The club system in this city has
been somewhat dersnged by the
opening of the proprietary club
known rs the Carleton Club, from
the fact that its cuisine has proved
so attractive in connection with the
of celebrities generally to
be found there that it is drawing
from the clienteles of all the clubs.
John Chamberlain's clubhouse in
Washington is the headquarters of
all the prominent visiting States
men, and the Carleton is really a
branch of that institution, that gen.
tlemsn being the proprietor. All
those who visit the Washington es-
during their visit to the
national capital always 60 to the
Carleton when they are in this city.
The result is, that nearly all the
men that come to this
,ity are to be found at ,he Carleton,
whereas formerly they sought ac-
dofiOn in tho varionS other